Abstract
In Western Industrialized countries the officially registered crime rates have risen for the last fifty years (even though in some countries the crime rates have started to decrease recently). This trend should not be over interpreted, since there are generally high dark figures of crime. However, it can be assumed that there has been an increasing crime problem. Changes in social structures in particular seem to be responsible for this problem. This paper discusses the impact of a changed labor market and job situation including unemployment, poverty, social inequality, and the destabilization of the family. Factors such as trends in consumption and leisure-time activity patterns, and a n altered sense of responsibility for child rearing are discussed as well. This changed social landscape results in challenging social problems including a rising crime load and new related problems. Yet, public authorities still stick primarily to traditional measures of sanctioning. This article discusses the appropriateness of punitive reactions and the necessity of more and intense preventive measures.
